Scholarship Document Checklist for Pakistani Students

Missing or incorrectly attested documents are one of the most common reasons strong applicants lose out. This checklist covers the documents Pakistani students usually need, where to get them and when to start. Not every scholarship asks for all of them, so always compare with the official list for each award.

Identity documents

• Passport: Valid for at least the length of your studies plus six months is ideal. Many scholarships ask for a passport copy at the application stage. Apply or renew through the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, which also offers online renewal for eligible applicants.
• CNIC or B-Form: Applicants under 18 usually use a B-Form (Child Registration Certificate) or Juvenile Card from NADRA. Make sure your name, father's name and date of birth match exactly across all documents.
• Domicile certificate: Needed for some HEC-managed and provincial scholarships with regional quotas. Issued by the district administration where you live.
• Birth certificate: Occasionally requested, especially for undergraduate applicants. NADRA-computerised versions are best.

Tip: If your name is spelled differently on your passport and degree (for example "Muhammad" vs "Mohammad"), fix it now or get an affidavit, as mismatches cause problems at visa stage.

Academic documents

• Matric (SSC) and Intermediate (HSSC) certificates and mark sheets. For undergraduate applications, these are the core documents.
• O and A Level certificates or statements of results, if applicable, plus IBCC equivalence where required.
• Bachelor's degree and transcript. Final transcripts with grading scale on the back are best.
• Master's or MS/M.Phil. degree and transcript, for PhD applicants.
• Provisional certificate, if your final degree has not yet been issued.
• Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate or English proficiency letter from your university, which some universities accept as evidence of English.
• Rank or position certificate if you were a top student; it can strengthen an application.

Attestation and verification

Different documents are attested by different bodies:

MOFA attestation and apostille: Pakistan is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so many countries now accept an apostille from MOFA instead of embassy legalisation. MOFA only attests educational documents after they have been verified by HEC (for degrees) or IBCC (for school certificates). MOFA has moved apostille requests to an online registration system at apostille.mofa.gov.pk, with offices in Islamabad and several provincial cities. Its notices have mentioned temporary suspensions, so check the current status and fee on mofa.gov.pk before you apply.

Do you always need MOFA? No. Many scholarships accept HEC- or IBCC-attested copies, or simply scanned originals at the application stage. MOFA attestation or apostille is more commonly needed for visas, enrolment in some countries (for example China and several European and Gulf countries), and employment abroad. Check the requirement for your specific country and university.

Application documents

• CV (academic format, one to two pages)
• Motivation letter, statement of purpose, personal statement or study plan (see our samples)
• Two or three recommendation letters
• Research proposal (for most PhD applications)
• English test score report (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or Duolingo, as accepted)
• Standardised test scores (SAT, GRE, GMAT) where required
• Portfolio, writing sample or publications, if relevant
• Acceptance or offer letter, if the scholarship requires admission first
• Experience letters from employers, on letterhead, with dates and job title

Documents often needed at the visa or final stage

• Police character certificate: Issued by provincial police services. In Punjab, it can be requested through Police Khidmat Markaz services; other provinces have their own procedures. The federal government approved a nationwide online system in 2026, so check your provincial police website or the National Police Bureau for the current process.
• Medical certificate: Some scholarships (for example CSC and Türkiye Bursları) require a specific medical form. Countries such as the UK require a tuberculosis test from an approved clinic for applicants from Pakistan.
• Polio vaccination certificate: Travellers leaving Pakistan have been required to carry a polio vaccination certificate; check current rules before you travel.
• Photographs: Usually passport size with a white background, but sizes differ by country. Keep digital and printed copies.
• Translations: Documents in Urdu (such as some domicile or birth certificates) may need certified English translations. Some countries require translations into their language by a sworn translator.
• Bank statements or sponsorship letters: For partial scholarships or visa financial evidence.
• No Objection Certificate (NOC): If you are a government employee, you will usually need departmental permission or an NOC to apply and to accept the award.

How to stay organised

• Create one folder per scholarship and a "master documents" folder with high-quality colour scans.
• Name files clearly, for example Ahmed_Ali_BSc_Transcript_HEC.pdf.
• Keep scans under the size limit most portals set (often 2 MB to 5 MB per file).
• Note expiry dates: passports, test scores (usually valid for two years) and police certificates (often accepted only if recent).

Key takeaways

• Fix name and date-of-birth mismatches across documents before you apply.
• HEC attests degrees, IBCC handles school certificates and equivalence, MOFA handles legalisation or apostille.
• Not every scholarship needs MOFA attestation at the application stage; check before spending time and money.
• Start attestation and police certificates early, as delays are common.
• Keep a well-organised digital folder of every document.